Why are flash game scripts so Web 1.0?

AndrewE · 04-22-2008, 03:47 AM

Dear Forum,

I haven't posted here in a long time, but it's good to be back and to see the community has grown.

I'm sure many of you will agree with me that most and if not all of the game scripts available to webmasters are stuck in a pre Web 2.0 bubble. I have written about this topic in more detail on my blog (shameless but relevant plug). The main premise of my argument is that there aren't enough skilled developers in the arcade industry and those that exist are catering to spam arcade (sparcade) buyers.

When are we going to see a script that is in tune with the times? A script that puts the user at the center of its design? Where the user is able to manipulate the arcade environment rather than just passively consume its content? What about networking? Communities? What about the mobile market? How long have we been stuck with this web 1.0 arcade model, rigid, cumbersome and lets be honest pretty damned ugly?

There is a real sense that someone with an iota of developer/design talent could revolutionize this market and make a lot of money in the process...

LearnNewbie · 04-22-2008, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewE

Dear Forum,

I haven't posted here in a long time, but it's good to be back and to see the community has grown.

I'm sure many of you will agree with me that most and if not all of the game scripts available to webmasters are stuck in a pre Web 2.0 bubble. I have written about this topic in more detail on my blog (shameless but relevant plug). The main premise of my argument is that there aren't enough skilled developers in the arcade industry and those that exist are catering to spam arcade (sparcade) buyers.

When are we going to see a script that is in tune with the times? A script that puts the user at the center of its design? Where the user is able to manipulate the arcade environment rather than just passively consume its content? What about networking? Communities? What about the mobile market? How long have we been stuck with this web 1.0 arcade model, rigid, cumbersome and lets be honest pretty damned ugly?

There is a real sense that someone with an iota of developer/design talent could revolutionize this market and make a lot of money in the process...

You got some good point. However i am disagree about lack of developer parts. My arugement would be like this. Most of arcade webmaster are newbie, they dont want to spend a lot money and they want to make a lot money..Also when they get one site make over $5buck a day and they will get greedy build many sites...They theory like this MORE SITE = MORE MONEY. Which is totally wrong.

Fahd · 04-22-2008, 06:30 PM

Aren't arcade games inherently old fashioned and therefore pre web era? If you want change and progress I think MMORPGs may be a good avenue for you to consider. But I would welcome a user centric arcade script to cater to the younger audience that expects more from the web.

amadman · 04-22-2008, 08:09 PM

I think the web 2.0 is a bunch of number 2.

Yes the web is evolving and changing. But just because someone puts a label on the change that does not mean you have to change to fit the label.

AndrewE · 04-23-2008, 02:37 AM

@LearnNewbie: Agreed. The 'more sites=more money' model is flawed. Adding focus, quality and passion to a single site, is likely to yield more in the long run.

@Fahd: I think you're right, the idea of an arcade game is old fashioned, but that doesn't exclude the possibility of new ideas, particularly in an industry that is technology dependent. Innovation is possible, it's a matter of developers and webmasters being prepared to think outside the box. We need a cultural shift.

@ amadman: Anything that's not changing is dead. Ultimately, I'm not concerned with the labels given to web trends, as you rightly say, they're not important. What is important is that we open our eyes and take a good look at the tendencies happening in front of us. Again you're right, we don't have to copy or mimic those tendencies, but we can learn from them and attempt to push their boundaries. Being part of the status quo, taking the middle road, sticking to our comfort zones etc etc, now that's something I would call 'a bunch of number 2'.

amadman · 04-23-2008, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Being part of the status quo, taking the middle road, sticking to our comfort zones etc etc, now that's something I would call 'a bunch of number 2'.

Agreed... Though I think some of the scripts do offer some user interaction and many of the scripts are still being actively developed. So there does seem to still be some growth going on.

brendgard · 04-23-2008, 11:30 AM

Have you stopped to ask yourself if anybody even wants what you say they do? Take the community part for instance. I have a forum as a part of one of my arcades. few people post in it. I have asked for feedback concerning why not. Know what I was told? They invariably (as in 100%) said that they don't care about it, they only come for the games. Some of us do try to add things that we think the visitors want. And there are developers adding things, changing things around, etc. But is it what visitors want? I've been hearing about people flocking away from MySpace because it's become a madhouse with too many people and/or too much SPAM. Maybe they come to an arcade to get away and take a break? My point is, I'm not so convinced that everybody (visitors I mean) wants what you are pushing for.

peter_anderson · 04-23-2008, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brendgard

Have you stopped to ask yourself if anybody even wants what you say they do? Take the community part for instance. I have a forum as a part of one of my arcades. few people post in it. I have asked for feedback concerning why not. Know what I was told? They invariably (as in 100%) said that they don't care about it, they only come for the games. Some of us do try to add things that we think the visitors want. And there are developers adding things, changing things around, etc. But is it what visitors want? I've been hearing about people flocking away from MySpace because it's become a madhouse with too many people and/or too much SPAM. Maybe they come to an arcade to get away and take a break? My point is, I'm not so convinced that everybody (visitors I mean) wants what you are pushing for.

I have a forum on WebGamesNetwork. I had 200+ spam messages, and had to delete them one by one. I got those spammers nicely banned from accessing internet at school

Look here: http://www.webgamesnetwork.com/forums.php?a=topic&t=136 , and here's my spammer's list: http://www.webgamesnetwork.com/page/8.html

Arcades which target UK teenagers should use Bebo, as that worked fine for traffic for me, until they bannedmy account.

Arcades+ community= one wont work.

Fahd · 04-23-2008, 01:29 PM

Good point brend a lot of people do tend to like the simpler old fashioned sites like craigslist, plentyoffish, etc.

defcrash · 04-23-2008, 02:17 PM

You guys are scaring me!

As some of you know, i've launched a massive update to my arcade (some days ago) that puts the "user at the center of its design" (as AndrewE said), i know its very soon to talk about it cause it only have some days and a big part of the content still have the "testing", "this is a test", "just testing" crap, but to be honnest i've already noticed the difference between the "before and the after" (traffic related), i've already got some new users and some messages from them asking if i need anything and that they are looking forward for the "final version" of the website!

I do agree that alot of users are only "here" for the games, but theres also a big part that likes the community thing and being able to interact between them makes them feel good, i've thought alot about it and i decided to give it a shot and hopefully the website will have a little success, but that only time will tell!

04-22-2008, 03:47 AM	#1 (permalink)
AndrewE Preferred Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 137	Why are flash game scripts so Web 1.0? Dear Forum, I haven't posted here in a long time, but it's good to be back and to see the community has grown. I'm sure many of you will agree with me that most and if not all of the game scripts available to webmasters are stuck in a pre Web 2.0 bubble. I have written about this topic in more detail on my blog (shameless but relevant plug). The main premise of my argument is that there aren't enough skilled developers in the arcade industry and those that exist are catering to spam arcade (sparcade) buyers. When are we going to see a script that is in tune with the times? A script that puts the user at the center of its design? Where the user is able to manipulate the arcade environment rather than just passively consume its content? What about networking? Communities? What about the mobile market? How long have we been stuck with this web 1.0 arcade model, rigid, cumbersome and lets be honest pretty damned ugly? There is a real sense that someone with an iota of developer/design talent could revolutionize this market and make a lot of money in the process... __________________ FingerMonkey \| Little Loki \| Craverz.com \| Arcade Blog \| Twitter

04-22-2008, 06:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
Fahd Arcade Elite Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,311	Aren't arcade games inherently old fashioned and therefore pre web era? If you want change and progress I think MMORPGs may be a good avenue for you to consider. But I would welcome a user centric arcade script to cater to the younger audience that expects more from the web. __________________ GameKlicks.com - Quality! Arcade Partner Program \| Arcade Affiliate Program \| Free Website Monitoring Free Games \| Exchange Links \| Download Games New Games \| Top Games \| Arcade Games \| Card Games \| Mahjong Games \| Puzzle Games \| Word Games

04-22-2008, 08:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
amadman Full Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 96	I think the web 2.0 is a bunch of number 2. Yes the web is evolving and changing. But just because someone puts a label on the change that does not mean you have to change to fit the label. __________________ http://www.the-games-spot.com \| \| Join the Arcade Webring

04-23-2008, 02:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
AndrewE Preferred Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 137	@LearnNewbie: Agreed. The 'more sites=more money' model is flawed. Adding focus, quality and passion to a single site, is likely to yield more in the long run. @Fahd: I think you're right, the idea of an arcade game is old fashioned, but that doesn't exclude the possibility of new ideas, particularly in an industry that is technology dependent. Innovation is possible, it's a matter of developers and webmasters being prepared to think outside the box. We need a cultural shift. @ amadman: Anything that's not changing is dead. Ultimately, I'm not concerned with the labels given to web trends, as you rightly say, they're not important. What is important is that we open our eyes and take a good look at the tendencies happening in front of us. Again you're right, we don't have to copy or mimic those tendencies, but we can learn from them and attempt to push their boundaries. Being part of the status quo, taking the middle road, sticking to our comfort zones etc etc, now that's something I would call 'a bunch of number 2'. __________________ FingerMonkey \| Little Loki \| Craverz.com \| Arcade Blog \| Twitter

04-23-2008, 11:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
brendgard Gamer FX Staff Arcade Elite Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,008	Have you stopped to ask yourself if anybody even wants what you say they do? Take the community part for instance. I have a forum as a part of one of my arcades. few people post in it. I have asked for feedback concerning why not. Know what I was told? They invariably (as in 100%) said that they don't care about it, they only come for the games. Some of us do try to add things that we think the visitors want. And there are developers adding things, changing things around, etc. But is it what visitors want? I've been hearing about people flocking away from MySpace because it's become a madhouse with too many people and/or too much SPAM. Maybe they come to an arcade to get away and take a break? My point is, I'm not so convinced that everybody (visitors I mean) wants what you are pushing for. __________________ The biggest and best freelance site on the web! http://gamersgo.com A list of arcade related sites, add yours. http://funarcadeonline.com/ Submit games and trade links with me.

04-23-2008, 01:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
Fahd Arcade Elite Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,311	Good point brend a lot of people do tend to like the simpler old fashioned sites like craigslist, plentyoffish, etc. __________________ GameKlicks.com - Quality! Arcade Partner Program \| Arcade Affiliate Program \| Free Website Monitoring Free Games \| Exchange Links \| Download Games New Games \| Top Games \| Arcade Games \| Card Games \| Mahjong Games \| Puzzle Games \| Word Games

04-23-2008, 02:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
defcrash Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 37	You guys are scaring me! As some of you know, i've launched a massive update to my arcade (some days ago) that puts the "user at the center of its design" (as AndrewE said), i know its very soon to talk about it cause it only have some days and a big part of the content still have the "testing", "this is a test", "just testing" crap, but to be honnest i've already noticed the difference between the "before and the after" (traffic related), i've already got some new users and some messages from them asking if i need anything and that they are looking forward for the "final version" of the website! I do agree that alot of users are only "here" for the games, but theres also a big part that likes the community thing and being able to interact between them makes them feel good, i've thought alot about it and i decided to give it a shot and hopefully the website will have a little success, but that only time will tell! __________________ arcadefromhell.com YOUR SOUL WILL BE MINE

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